Does President Obama Listen to His Generals?

A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier watches Afghan Commandos while patrolling a village in Paktia province, Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, on Nov. 30.
(U.S. Army)

After many months of speculation and political pressure, President Obama laid out his plans for U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan last night. His plans signal a shift in strategy, with Obama pulling troops out of Afghanistan at a faster pace than top military generals had initially recommended. Some senior officials have said on the record that rapid troop withdrawal will make it difficult for the remaining American forces in Afghanistan to complete their mission.

Ret. Col. Peter Mansoor, former executive officer to Gen. David Petraeus and now professor of military history at Ohio State University, suggests the president likes to make his own decisions, and the relationship with military leaders is not as close as it could be.